Ben Carson: The rewards of independence, common sense

6:05 PM,
Jan. 3, 2014

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Opinion column by Ben Carson

Earlier this year, one of the mainstream media networks was planning to do a special on my retirement from neurosurgery. They recorded a lecture I gave at my medical school, as well as one at a high school in Detroit. They accompanied me to my old stomping grounds, where many of the neighbors came out to greet me and talk about old times.

I was struck by some of their comments, including the notion that I always had lofty, unrealistic dreams, but that they would enjoy hearing about them anyway. Someone else told me that people would always murmur among themselves when I approached, "Here comes Mr. ...